RACGP telehealth and vaccination advocacy continues
The RACGP has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of permanent telehealth following strong college advocacy.
We are continuing to advocate for the reinstatement of longer telehealth phone consultations as part of the ongoing role of telehealth in providing access to care for people across Australia.
We are advocating for more appropriate vaccine-suitability assessment MBS items for children aged 5–11 years given the extra time likely needed to obtain consent and administer vaccines to this patient group.
We are also continuing to push for appropriate remuneration for GPs administering booster doses.
Telehealth changes from 1 January 2022
From 1 January 2022, patient access to telehealth services will be supported by ongoing MBS arrangements.
The DoH will introduce a number of changes to MBS telehealth items in the new year:
- A new Level C phone consultation item for patients in MMM6–7 locations
- Removal of the current Level C phone items for COVID-19 hotspots
- Extension of MBS items for nicotine and smoking-cessation services to 31 December 2023 and sexual and reproductive health services and non-directive pregnancy support counselling to 30 June 2023
- Inclusion of telehealth items in Standardised Whole Patient Equivalent calculations, which determine the value of Practice Incentives Program and Workforce Incentive Program – Practice Stream payments
- Updated Medicare compliance rules to include telehealth services in the prescribed pattern of practice (80/20 rule), with a new ‘30/20’ rule for phone services
- Removal of superseded pre-COVID telehealth and associated items to avoid different MBS items for the same service
Visit the RACGP website and MBS Online for more information.
Guidance on consent, capacity and substitute decision-making
The Department of Health (DoH) has developed guidance for health professionals on consent, capacity, substitute decision-making and individualised advice for COVID-19 vaccination.
This guidance was developed with the particular needs of people with intellectual disability in mind, but has broader applicability.
Access the guidelines
Remote supervision vaccine MBS items
On 1 January 2022, two new MBS items will be introduced to allow qualified health professionals (eg nurses) to provide vaccine-suitability assessments outside a medical practice without onsite supervision by a medical practitioner.
Item 93660 is for MMM1 areas and item 93661 is for MMM2–7 areas. These new items target the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable people who may have difficulty travelling to a medical practice. Like all MBS COVID-19 vaccine items, these items must be bulk billed.
The medical practitioner retains responsibility for the health, safety and clinical outcomes of the patient. They must be satisfied that the relevant health professional is appropriately qualified and trained to provide the service.
RACGP education kit: COVID Vaccine Booking Program
The RACGP Practice Essentials education kit: COVID Vaccine Booking Program will guide you and your practice team members on using the Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect. The kit also includes an on-demand webinar.
Integrating your practice’s online vaccine appointments and practice details with the Vaccine Clinic Finder (VCF) in real time ensures patients can connect with your practice to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses. The VCF is a national online system for patients to find and book vaccination appointments. VCF Connect is a secure, authenticated online portal that allows practice owners and managers to update your practice’s COVID-19 vaccination services information online.
The RACGP education kit covers:
- understanding the VCF and its role in improving access to COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses
- knowing the VCF patient journey
- integrating online booking systems
- keeping your VCF information updated with VCF Connect.
Access the education kit and webinar
COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme: Resources now available
The COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme opened to potential claimants on 13 December 2021.
The scheme reimburses people who suffer a moderate-to-significant impact following an adverse reaction to an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
A key aim of the scheme is to reduce the risk of legal action against a healthcare practitioner involved in the vaccination rollout. The scheme does not prevent someone from taking action through the courts – it has been designed as a streamlined alternative to court proceedings
A number of resources are now available on the DoH’s website:
Updated resource: Caring for patients with post–COVID-19 conditions
The RACGP has published updated guidance on caring for patients with post-COVID-19 conditions.
The guide contains information for you and your teams for caring for patients who:
- have previously tested positive to COVID-19
- have a history suggestive of undiagnosed COVID-19
- have – or are at risk of – post-COVID-19 conditions at any point after the initial acute infection.
The guide provides advice and support for developing individualised plans in collaboration with patients for the ongoing management of these conditions.
It can be used in conjunction with the patient resource Managing post-COVID-19 symptoms, which we will update in the new year.
Read the guide Access all RACGP COVID-19 resources
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COVID-19 taskforce updates
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (of which the RACGP is a member) has released eight new or updated flowcharts, including:
- a new summary flowchart for disease-modifying treatments for adults
- a new ‘Pathways to care’ flowchart for children and adolescents
- an updated flowchart for basic life support
- updated flowcharts for care of adults with COVID-19.
Access all living guidelines and flowcharts
Image-based prescribing arrangement extended
Image-based prescribing was introduced as an interim arrangement to support prescribing when consulting via telehealth during the pandemic while electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) capabilities were developed.
Initially due to be discontinued on 31 December 2021, the DoH has extended the current image-based prescribing arrangement to 31 March 2022. Despite this extension, ePrescribing is preferable to image-based prescribing.
The DoH will update its guide for prescribers and state and territory rules fact sheets shortly to reflect the new end date.